Replies

1. 
   piko | Feb 05, 2006 05:10am | #1

   I'm sure that as a subscriber you'll be able to get it posted to you. Evidence suggests, from other posters, that the UK has a few followers.

   Tho' I don't know the purpose of your query - are you trying to find a coterie of like-minded high-class builders to relate to, or trying to teach 'furriners' the delicacies of N. American construction?

    All the best...

   To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.

    

   
   

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   Edited 2/5/2006 12:45 am by piko

2. 
   limeyjoiner | Feb 05, 2006 07:11am | #2

   here in the uk there isn't a publication that deals specifically with the nuts and bolts of house building. Lots and lots of mags aimed at the weekend handyman, hobby wood worker and interior designer wannabies.

   I kinda wish that there was a UK FHB simply because building practices and regulations that are commonplace in the US are almost unheard of this side of the Atlantic

1. 
   toolpouchguy | Feb 05, 2006 05:20pm | #3

   now i hear when you build a place in the uk germany ect they are built to be handed down from generation to generation .which means they are bult very well made to last here in north america we build houses to be repaired alot of times over its life time ???so a bathroom pr kitchin renovation in 15 years or so

1. 
   harrisdog43 | Feb 05, 2006 06:22pm | #4

   I agree with "made to be repaired". A guy on the next street just had 3 guys "repairing" the exterior trim on his 3 year old house (rot).

   They replaced it okay, but did nothing for the original cause. My wife asked me why I did not go tell him...hidden profit motive. Actually I am not sure anyone who would allow 3 guys to work 7 hours to replace less than 15' of trim would be interested in any advice unsolicited or otherwise.

2. 
   limeyjoiner | Feb 05, 2006 07:09pm | #5

   I don't know about the rest of Europe but here in the uk the quality of new builds has consistently dropped over the past few years, I'm lucky enough to not have to work on these "noddy boxes" (I've just finished a remodel on a 300 year old farm cottage) but I know guys who do work on the new builds and they're having a real hard time, jobs priced to the absolute minimum, cheap materials and it's all down to government targets to build new homes

1. 
   piko | Feb 06, 2006 07:54am | #10

   I haven't been on a UK jobsite for 30 years, so I can't gainsay you in that - it looked the same to me last Sept when I walked around. Oh, sure, I remember how outrageous Wimpey was with 'no-fines' concrete, bit I'd still have to agree that houses are built to last longer in "Yurp". My late FIL called our houses 'shacks' here. But the trend here seems to be bigger, more ostentatious houses that don't lend themselves to renovations...presumably they advertise "We've made our money, and we want you to know it" (with the addendum "We don't care about the environment").  Perhaps the only good thing about building so big is that the next generation will find that converting them into several apartments will be the only way it can afford to own a place!

   All the best...

   To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.

    

   Edited 2/5/2006 11:55 pm by piko

2. 
   mccarty12 | Feb 05, 2006 10:20pm | #6

   The building practices are not really all that different. I hung some drywall with a couple of guys in Inverness Scotland when I was traveling through. When it was over we had as they called it a "whiskey night "

3. 
   scottthebuilder | Feb 06, 2006 05:08am | #7

   IMHO they do it better in Europe. They have extensive apprenticeship programs where you can't just pick up some tools and call yourself a tradesman. I walked a jobsite in Switzerland that blew my mind. Walls of aerated concrete block 14 or 16 inches thick, Pyrex glass lined chimneys, what looked like cut and threaded stainless steel piping. They build to last and often hand houses down from generation to generation. In my market (Fla.) some of what I see in new construction is embarassing. I have never seen an FHB type mag from overseas but they do have some great design/architecture type mags that are great for contemporary ideas. One cool thing I saw in Europe was the cabinetry. Apparently they keep it even when they move (they hang from a z-bar and have leveling legs behind the toe-kick). I saw companies advertised as kitchen movers. With the prices of Smallbone and Poggenpohl cabinetry (100K is easy) I'd move it too.

   Scott

4. 
   garybuilt | Feb 06, 2006 05:21am | #8

   I doubt it . My experence in globe trotting says that you,ll find no greater variety in imigination, experementation or easily obtainable opulance than what one finds in north america. Remember this is still the new world and in Rome they still build like the Romans at times.  

1. 
   semar | Feb 06, 2006 08:12am | #11

   thats why NA customers are asking for European cabinets.? Layouts, hardware etc. are miles ahead from NA building. check Poggenpohl, Miele, Siemens, Bulthaup

   Go to Yahoo.de and type in Bauen or Wohnhaus or Fertighaus 

   Building codes are stricter, Price is not so much an issue as is quality, since they do not nearly move as often as NA homeowners. Renovations in older homes is not a problem but takes longer (breaking thru a concrete wall takes longer than ripping some studs out.) They have recognized the advantages of wood construction and most of their homes are prebuild. From basementsubfloor to move in often less than 2 weeks. Standardized layouts make a big difference.

   Saw a prebuild woodframe home. They use 2x6 absolute dry materials for interior partitions, dowelled into the bottom and top plates. Lumber which is # 1 grade in NA is used for blocking.

   Same goes for Japanese homes. They demand JAS grade lumber certification before anything is shipped overseas. (Japanese Architectural Specification) There is not a single knot I have seen) Local mills will sell to you but only in large quantities, semitruckloads, and it is about 25% more. In Japan they almost worship wood.

   Has anybody seen their timberworkmanship?

   They have a very good apprenticeship program and certified tradesman have very good skills. They also usually stay with the company that trained them and do not run away right away and become selfemployed and a competition.

2. 
   scottthebuilder | Feb 06, 2006 02:25pm | #13

   "Remember this is still the new world and in Rome they still build like the Romans at times."

   That's pretty funny..............I hope in my lifetime I will ever be able to own a home built like in Roman times (Add windows,doors,A/C and electricity) They invented it. 300 to 400 year old homes are common in Italy. There is nothing on the entire North American continent that even approaches the Vatican in structure,quality,or detail. Imagination,experimentation, and easily obtainable opulence = OSB shat boxes full of mold, decaying young growth lumber, and "experimental" materials off gassing chemicals you can't pronounce with construction litigation attorneys on speed dial. Quality is the exception not the rule. I personally have seen 2 European style jobs in my life. I'd venture that less than 1/10th of 1 percent or less will ever attain anything like it. One was in the $200 a foot range 20 years ago. The other was last year and it was $600+ a foot. Where have you been globe trotting, central Africa. We've got them beat hands down. FHB and JLC represent the builders/contractors/tradesmen/homeowners who care. Most don't. I can't count how many I've turned on to FHB which represents the pinnacle of residential construction in the US.

5. 
   TTF | Feb 06, 2006 06:54am | #9

   I get over to Holland, Belguim & Germany every couple of months, and I always look for a publication similar to FHB - no dice so far. I have seen a number of "self build" publications from the UK, but nothing focussed on pros or much custom building.

    

    

6. 
   BarryO | Feb 06, 2006 01:08pm | #12

   Building practices are definitely different in various parts of the world.  Taylored for local building materials, seimic conditions, traditions, expectations, etc.

   I was in France a while ago, and noticed in the typical "subdivision", each job site included a small tower crane, sorta like a miniature version of what you see bulding high-rises here.  And this is for a single-family house.  The construction is all concrete or concrete  block, with some steel reinforcement.

   yes, buildling materials tend to be sturdier and long-lasting than here.  OTOH they don't worry about earthquakes.  And the flip side is to check out the real estate ads.  They are much, much, higher than in the USA.  Here, the post-WWII "American dream" is that most everyone owns their home.  In Europe, far fewer do, and many people are lifetime renters.